Post Graduation Work Permit

Canada's Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program is designed to attract international students and support their transition to permanent residency. The PGWP allows eligible graduates to work for any Canadian employer without requiring a job offer. Its duration can extend up to three years, depending on the length of the graduate's Canadian educational program. One of the key advantages of the PGWP is that it provides international graduates with the opportunity to gain professional work experience in Canada. This experience is often essential for those who plan to apply for Canadian permanent residency, as many of Canada's 100+ immigration pathways favor candidates who have studied or worked in the country. Typically, PGWP holders need to accumulate at least one year of skilled work experience under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 0, A, or B to qualify for most Canadian permanent residence programs.

Can I Study Abroad and Still Qualify for a PGWP?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a special policy during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing international students to pursue distance learning at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) while remaining eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. DLIs are Canadian government-accredited colleges and universities authorized to enroll international students.

Under this policy, international students who either study online from abroad or submit a study permit application by August 31, 2022, can complete up to 100% of their program online without impacting their PGWP eligibility. However, starting September 1, 2023, any study time completed from abroad will be deducted from the PGWP duration, regardless of when the student began their program.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a PGWP?

Effective November 1, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will implement new criteria for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for university graduates (bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD) or CLB level 5 for college graduates. Additionally, while graduates with bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees will continue to qualify, graduates from public colleges will only be eligible for a PGWP if their field of study aligns with in-demand sectors of the Canadian labor market.

Starting September 2024, students enrolled in programs delivered through a curriculum licensing framework—where a private college is licensed to use the curriculum of an affiliated public college—will no longer be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

To qualify for a PGWP, international students must meet the following requirements:

• Program Eligibility: Complete an academic, vocational, or professional training program of at least eight months in duration at an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Full-Time Status: Maintain full-time student status in Canada throughout all academic sessions of the program included in the PGWP application, except during the final academic session or when specific exemptions apply (e.g., COVID-19-related measures for programs begun between spring 2020 and summer 2022).
• Completion Proof: Provide a transcript and an official letter from the DLI confirming the successful completion of the program requirements, which must accompany the PGWP application.
• Institution Type: Graduate from one of the following:
  • A public post-secondary institution (e.g., college, trade or technical school, university, or CEGEP in Quebec).
  • A private post-secondary school in Quebec that follows the same regulations as public schools.
  • A private secondary or post-secondary school in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or more, leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP).
  • A Canadian private school authorized by provincial law to award degrees (e.g., associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate), provided the student’s program led to an eligible degree.

Note: Graduates of vocational or professional training programs in Quebec must meet IRCC’s specific PGWP criteria based on the type of diploma earned.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a PGWP?

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is valid for a duration ranging from 8 months to 3 years, depending on the length of your program at a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). According to the guidelines provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

• Completed a program under 8 months: Not eligible for a PGWP.
• Completed a program between 8 months and less than 2 years: The PGWP will be valid for the same length as your study program (e.g., a 10-month program will result in a 10-month PGWP).
• Completed a master’s program less than 2 years in length: The PGWP will be valid for 2 years.
• Completed a program of 2 years or more: The PGWP will be valid for 3 years.
• Completed more than one program:You may combine multiple eligible Canadian programs (each over 8 months in duration and offered by a Designated Learning Institution) to apply for a PGWP. The total length of the PGWP will correspond to the durations outlined above.

Note: Specific criteria may apply to master’s programs under 2 years; consult IRCC for details.

What is the Application Deadline for the PGWP?

The deadline to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is within 180 days (six months) of receiving a transcript and an official letter from the eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) confirming the completion of the program requirements.

If a study permit is set to expire before the final grades are available, applicants have two options:

• Apply for a visitor record to extend their stay in Canada; or
• Leave Canada and submit the PGWP application from abroad.

When applying, applicants must demonstrate that they either:

• Hold a valid study permit;
• Previously held a study permit; or
• Were authorized to study in Canada without requiring a study permit under paragraphs 188(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.